Amarillo Bulls clinch series with 4-1 victory over Odessa

The Amarillo Bulls can sit back and relax for a few days — they are moving on in the North American Hockey League playoffs.

Amarillo captured the South Division semifinal series against Odessa on Tuesday, cruising past the Jackalopes, 4-1, in front of 1,845 fans at Odessa’s Ector County Coliseum.

Amarillo won the best of five series, 3-1.

Amarillo led 2-0 in the second period before Odessa forward Lawrence Cornellier scored on the powerplay at the 16:22 mark with the Jackalopes on a 5-on-3 advantage.

However, the Bulls answered quickly as forward Mike Erickson scored on a shorthanded shot 31 seconds later for a comfortable 3-1 lead.

“That was a big-time goal. We got a couple of goals early and we were able to answer with that shorty,” Bulls head coach Dennis Williams said. “Our guys came out hard. I think we kind of built off what happened last night (Amarillo beat Odessa, 4-3, in overtime in Game 3 Monday). We stuck with the game plan, went to the net and played well down the stretch.”

One goal was all the offense Odessa could muster against Amarillo goaltender Gregg Gruehl, who stopped 22 of 23 shots and earned his first postseason win.

Amarillo went 12-1-0 against Odessa this season, including the playoffs.

“Give credit to Odessa. They came out hard in the third,” Williams said.

“They came out and shook our hands after the game and played hard the whole series. That is a classy team.”

Amarillo earned a spot in the South Division finals against either the Topeka Roadrunners or the Texas Tornado.